Schools closed, evacuation urged as storm bears down

Thursday

SCITUATE - Thursday morning saw almost spring-like weather on the South Shore, with the sun shining and temperatures approaching 60 degrees, but officials warned that the calm would not last.

In Scituate, sand flew as dozens of people filled bags that they hoped would fortify their homes against punishing four-foot storm surges expected to destroy homes, flood neighborhoods and leave people stranded for perhaps days. Several school departments canceled classes for Friday while officials in Hull, Scituate, Marshfield and Duxbury urged coastal residents to evacuate ahead of the flooding, which forecaster feared could rival a storm that lashed the coast in October 1991 or even the famed Blizzard of '78.

"Do not ride out the storm in your home if you are told to evacuate," a stern Gov. Charlie Baker warned in an afternoon press conference.

Forecasters said the storm, which was just forming Thursday afternoon, would hit the South Shore particularly hard with blizzard-force winds and up to 4 inches of rain starting Friday morning. Flood-prone areas, and even those that typically remain above water, are expected to flood with the 11:30 a.m. tide and could under water until after the evening high tide, some 12 hours later.

Officials, calling the storm "extremely dangerous" and "life-threatening," warned that it would likely destroy some coastal homes and severally damage others. Gov. Baker signed an order this afternoon activating 200 National guardsmen and women but warned that even with the help of a fleet of 34 vehicles they may not be able to rescue people trapped in coastal areas at the height of the storm.

"People should take this really seriously irregardless of what it looks like today," Kurt Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday afternoon.

All MBTA ferry service out of Hingham for Friday has been canceled and Massachusetts State Police planned to close several state roads along the coast, including Quincy Shore Drive, Hull Shore Drive and Nantasket Avenue. Schools in Hull, Scituate, Marshfield and Duxbury are closed as well.

Joe Rossi, chairman of the Marshfield Citizens Coastal Coalition, said storm surges of three to four feet were expected to hit the South Shore at a time of already high astronomical tides and could push flood waters into areas that would normally remain dry. He said the strength of the storm surge also means flood waters may not recede after this morning's high tide and could continue battering homes through the evening, leaving people who stay behind stranded.

“If you’re really questioning whether you should remain in your building, we are telling people that once the tide comes in on Friday you most likely won't be able to get out,” he said.

Marshfield police were asking residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate before 11:45 a.m. Friday, when high tide is expected to hit. The senior center on Webster Street will be used as a warming center starting Friday at 8 a.m. and any pets that need to be boarded can be taken to the Animal Shelter on Clay Pit Road.

Ron Bizzezero, who has a home near Rexhame Beach, had just finished boarding up his ocean-facing windows early this afternoon when he got an automated call from the Town of Marshfield telling him selectmen were considering declaring a state of emergency. The summer resident said he wasn't phased, however, and planned to ride out the storm.

"We've had waves break over the flag pole, that's 25 feet," he said. "I've been here for 30 years of storms and I'm not leaving now."

In Scituate, town officials were "strongly encouraging" residents living along to coast and off low-lying roads to get to higher ground, according to a notice posted on the town website. Those who evacuate were being asked to fill out an anonymous form on the site so emergency workers know they don't have to check on them during the height of the storm.

Scituate police also expect to close several roads during the storm, including Front Street, Edward Foster Road and Surfside Road. The town began handing out sand and sand bags at the intersection of Front Street and First Parish Road at 9 a.m. Thursday morning but had run out of bags within two hours. Some people turned back while others stood around with shovels waiting for more bags to arrive.

In Hull, officials were urging residents in flood-prone areas who choose not to evacuate to stock up on enough food and supplies to get them through 36 to 72 hours. Fire Chief Christopher Russo said the storm could create "life-threatening conditions" and cause "incredible damage" to the coast line.

Quincy Mayor Koch declared a weather emergency for the city on Thursday and warned residents in Squantum and Houghs Neck that the peninsulas would likely be cut off from the mainland during the storm. Christopher Walker, a spokesman for the mayor, said the city is having Quincy police and firefighters go door to door in some particularly vulnerable coastal areas to encourage people to evacuate.

“They should very strongly consider leaving, because we may not be able to get to them,” he said.

Officials warned that flooding today could be worse that that seen on Jan. 9, when storm waters reached coastal areas that hadn't flooded in decades. That included Bill Kerr's Humarock home, which he said flooded for the first time since the Blizzard of '78.

"That was a once-in-100-years storm, and here we are again two months later preparing again," Kerr said.

Bill Simpson, a spokesman for the National Weather Service in Taunton, said the storm is expected to be particularly damaging because it could stall about 100 miles off Cape Cod and lash the coast for hours before finally moving off.

“The big issues is it’s going to be a prolonged event,” he said.

The National Weather Service has issued coastal flood and high wind warnings for the South Shore, warning of storm surges up to four feet and wind gusts up to 65 miles per hour. The agency said the storm could leave some areas under three feet of water, cutting off whole neighborhoods and destroying some homes. Strong winds are also expected to knock out power in some areas.

The rain is expected to taper off by Saturday morning but moderate coastal flooding could continue through the evening.

Bob Eagan, who lives near the Scituate Lighthouse, said this type of weather is just something residents have to live with. His family has owned a Rebecca Road road home since 1956, and Eagan was again boarding up windows on Thursday afternoon. He said the storms can be unpredictable, but that the summer-time living more than makes up for the winter hassles.

"Before long the sun will be hot, the beer will be cold and we'll forget all about this," he said.